Michelin says it is not interested in applying to tender to be Formula 1’s future tyre supplier due to the FIA’s desire for tyres that degrade in a way “that affect the sporting spectacle.”
Michelin’s CEO Florent Menegaux said the company, which last supplied tyres to F1 in 2006, remains interested in the sport. But the manufacturer is not in agreement with the world championship’s vision for the type of tyres it should use.
Last month the FIA opened the tendering process to supply F1 tyres from 2025 to 2027. Pirelli holds the current contract and has been F1’s exclusive tyre supplier since replacing Bridgestone in 2011.
The FIA tender specifies various criteria the next supplier must meet. It describes “improvement of the show” as the top priority target over drivability, performance and operating conditions.
Menegaux says Michelin does not agree that the best way to produce competitive racing is through tyres which are designed to degrade. “We have been discussing with them for a very long time — and we are not in agreement,” he told The Drive.
“Because they say to have the show, you have to have tyres that destroy themselves. And I think we don’t know how to do this. So, we cannot agree.”
Menegaux said Michelin believe racing is better when drivers are encouraged to push flat-out. “Teams should be understanding tyre performance and capitalising on the fact that the tyre is going to be performing from the first lap around the circuit to the last,” he said.
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Although “the drivers will tell you they want to be at their maximum all the time”, Menegaux said that those same drivers will say “it’s not possible” to drive like that in the current era of high-degradation tyres.
Menegaux does not see brand value for Michelin if they were to “improve the show” in F1 due to already being “one of the best-known brands in the world”. He said Michelin’s motivation to be involved in motorsport is “because it’s the best way to very quickly live test new technology”.
Interested manufacturers have until May 15 the submit their documentation, at a cost of €75,000 (£66,000). The FIA will inform the Formula One Group of their chosen provider a month later.
Pirelli has confirmed it is evaluating the FIA’s tender documentation, and no other tyre manufacturer have yet to publicly comment on if they intend to apply.
Hankook, one of the world’s biggest tyre manufacturers and the new supplier to Formula E, is currently in a fight against time to provide tyres for racing series across the world following a major fire at their Daejeon factory in South Korea last month. That destroyed a significant amount of stock and led to tyre production being halted. FE was one of its fortunate customers which had already shipped out many of their tyres for the season.
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